Retail leasing in New York City covers properties used by restaurants, shops, fitness operators, entertainment companies, and other businesses. Brokerage firms may represent landlords seeking tenants or businesses looking for commercial space. The work can also involve properties with different layouts, locations, and permitted uses. In this market, James Famularo joined Meridian Capital Group after the firm established a retail leasing division in 2018. The division began with five brokers and later expanded substantially. Famularo’s role has included leasing assignments across Manhattan and other parts of New York City, and he has also participated in industry organizations and commented on changes affecting retail properties.
Meridian created its retail leasing division after Famularo left Eastern Consolidated in 2018. The new division was built around Famularo and members of his previous team. By late 2019, the group had grown to 18 brokers and had completed its 100th lease since joining Meridian. The Real Deal reported that Meridian ranked ninth among Manhattan retail brokerages in 2019, with 169,400 square feet of reported retail leasing activity. The publication also noted that Meridian had not operated a retail leasing division before bringing in Famularo and his team. The early expansion therefore marked a new line of business for the company, rather than a continuation of an established retail department.
The division continued operating during the COVID-19 pandemic, although broader disruptions to New York businesses affected retail transactions. In April 2020, Commercial Observer reported that Meridian signed several leases during the early weeks of the crisis. Famularo represented the landlord in a 500-square-foot Brooklyn Chop House lease at 131 First Avenue in the East Village, while another Meridian broker represented the tenant. He also arranged a 10,000-square-foot garage lease at 432 Rodney Street in Williamsburg. Later accounts published by Crain’s New York Business stated that Famularo closed 200 deals during 2020, including the Brooklyn Chop House transaction and a 20,000-square-foot restaurant lease near Times Square.
Activity increased after the initial pandemic period. Connect CRE reported that Famularo completed more than 200 leasing transactions in 2022, covering 550,000 square feet and representing approximately $329.4 million in dollar consideration. Two of the reported assignments were particularly large. At 771 Ninth Avenue in Hell’s Kitchen, he arranged a lease for Urban Pathways, a government-funded outreach program for people experiencing homelessness. At 311 West 43rd Street in Times Square, he brokered a 25,000-square-foot space for Fushimi Group. Meridian later described the Times Square transaction as a 20,000-square-foot restaurant lease, reflecting differences in the reported measurements. The assignments illustrate the range of tenants the retail division represents.
The volume reported for 2023 was higher. Connect CRE’s 2024 Top Broker Awards profile stated that Famularo negotiated 276 leases totaling 575,000 square feet during the year. The same profile reported gross rent on those leases of more than $437.5 million. Reported transactions included a 7,200-square-foot lease for Bonito at 114 West 47th Street, a 9,000-square-foot lease for Bucatini at 2 East 45th Street, and a 4,100-square-foot lease for Sempre Oggi on the Upper West Side. Other assignments included a 7,500-square-foot lease for Amish Fine Foods at 731 Ninth Avenue and a 3,000-square-foot lease for Win Son at 23 Second Avenue.
The retail division’s growth also showed up in its staffing. Meridian stated in 2024 that the operation had expanded from five brokers in 2018 to more than 55, while a separate Crain’s New York Business profile described the team as having more than 60 brokers. Meridian’s current biography also lists more than 60 brokers. It states that Famularo has negotiated more than 5,000 leases and leased more than 10 million square feet during his career. The division’s work had also expanded beyond its earlier concentration on food and beverage transactions to include broader retail uses. Meridian has described the retail team as a Top Retail Leasing Division in New York City from 2021 through 2024.
Several later transactions involved repositioning properties for new commercial uses. In October 2025, Famularo and Jacob Mayer represented Thor Equities in leasing a 10,000-square-foot space at 23 Grand Street in SoHo to Selene by Kyma. The reported asking rent was $90 per square foot, while Justin Bustamante represented the tenant. The location was part of the ModernHaus SoHo hotel and had remained vacant before the lease. In January 2026, Famularo and Bobby Ortense represented the landlord in a 12,326-square-foot lease to Voss Events at 62 Thomas Street in Tribeca, the former site of Buddha Bar. The space covered three levels, with an asking rent of $75,000 per month.
Other 2026 transactions continued to involve restaurant and neighborhood retail properties. In March, Famularo, Jacob Mayer, and Marcelo Demoraes represented the landlord in a 7,500-square-foot lease for Lungi at 31-19 Newton Avenue in Astoria. In August, Famularo and Jordan Langer represented ownership in Westville’s 4,148-square-foot lease at 540 Third Avenue in Murray Hill. The latter transaction consisted of 2,739 square feet on the ground floor and 1,409 square feet on the lower level. Commercial Observer reported that the lease would become Westville’s 12th location in the United States. Meridian also reported that its retail leasing platform completed more than 400 transactions in 2025. However, that figure reflects the division, not Famularo individually.
Famularo’s professional activities have extended beyond individual leasing assignments. He serves on the Real Estate Board of New York (REBNY) retail committee. He is a member of the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC). He has also written quarterly market commentary for the New York Real Estate Journal. His professional recognition has included CoStar’s Top Retail Leasing Broker designation, with Meridian records listing the award among his recurring honors. In 2024, Crain’s New York Business included Famularo among its Notable Real Estate Leaders. Connect CRE also named him a New York and Tri-State winner in its 2024 Top Broker Awards after reviewing his 2023 leasing activity. These recognitions document industry and publication-based attention to his work.
From creating Meridian’s retail leasing division in 2018 through transactions reported in 2025 and 2026, Famularo’s role has remained centered on New York retail leasing. The record shows the division grew from five brokers to more than 200 transactions in 2022, 276 leases in 2023, and later activity involving restaurants, entertainment operators, and neighborhood businesses. His assignments have included both landlord and tenant representation, depending on the transaction. The professional record also includes involvement with REBNY and ICSC and recognition from CoStar, Connect CRE, and Crain’s New York Business. Taken together, these records describe the development of James Famularo’s role within Meridian Capital Group and its retail leasing operations in New York City.
